SYNTHESIS OF AZO DYE FROM 2, 4-DINITROANILINE, 3-AMINO-5-METHYLPYRAZOLE AND BYROSCARPUS COCCINEUS

CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION

1.1            Background of Study

 Azo compounds are a class of chemical compounds that are continuously receiving attention in scientific research (Kirkan, 2008; Otutu, 2013, Seferoglu, 2009). Azo dyes contain one or more azo groups (-N =N-) which are linked to SP2 hybridized carbon atoms, based on the number of such groups (Zollinger, 1991). The dyes known as monoazo dyes have only one (-N = N -) group while diazo and triazo dyes contain two and three (-N = N -) group, respectively.

The azo groups are generally connected to benzene and naphthalene rings, but can also be attached to aromatic heterocycles or enolizable aliphatic groups (Hunger, 2000).Synthetic dye manufacturing started in 1856, when the English chemist W.H. Perkin, in an attempt to synthetize quinine, obtained instead a bluish substance with excellent dyeing properties that later became known as aniline purple, Tyrian purple or mauveine. Henry Perkins 18 years old patented his invention and set up a production line. This concept of research and development was soon to be followed by others and new dyes began to appear on the market, a process that was strongly stimulated by Kekules discovery of the molecular structure of benzene in 1865. In the beginning of the 20th century, synthetic dyestuffs had almost completely supplanted natural dyes (Welham, 2001). The synthesis of most azo dyes involves diazotization of a primary aromatic amine, followed by coupling with one or more nucleophilic aromatic compound such as an aryl amine or a phenol (McCorthy, 1997). Azo dyes are the most important class of industrial dyes, both in number and amount. In addition, azo dyes have found wide application in dyeing wool, polyamide fiber, semi conductivity textile and food industries (Bluss, 1995). In the present study a new azo compounds was prepared and Identification by IR, UV–Visible spectroscopy was carried out.

1.2            Objectives of the Study

The objectives of work are to

  1. synthesize azo dyes from 2,4,­­- dinitroaniline and 3­- amino ­-5- methylpyrazole
  2. characterize the dyes using Infra-red spectroscopy and UV­­­­­­­­­­­­- visible spectroscopy

1.3            Colour and its Chemical Constitution

After the synthesis of mauviene in 1856 by Henry Perkins, little was known of the chemistry of dyes and the constitution of mauviene was not established. However, following kekul’s proposal concerning the structure of benzene in 1865 which lead to theories concerning the influence of organic structures on the colour of molecules began. Graebe and Lieberman in 1867 observed that organic dyes know then were unsaturated compounds and that this unsaturation is destroyed by reducing agent which causes them to decolourise.

Witt 1876 put forward a theory that the colour of a substance is mainly due to the presence of an unsaturated group called chromophores (Greek chroma – colour, phores – bearing).the important chromophores  are the nitro(-NO2), Carbonyl (-C=O), azo (-N=N-), nitroso (-C=N-) the quinoid rings. He named the compounds containing chromphores chromogen. this chromogen do not behaves as dyes fibers unless they are also substituted by basic or weakly acidic groups called auxochromes e.g. -NH2, and OH .The presence of these groups increases the colour yielding  power of the chromophore.

1.4            Relevance of Study

This study takes a critical look at ways of producing readily available and cheaper dyes. It also provides ways to explore synthetic dyes for scientific and technological advancement using azo dyes.

1.5            Limitation of Study

This research is limited to the synthesis of azo dye using 2,4-dinitroaniline as the starting material.

1.6            Problems Encountered during the Study

The major problems encountered in this research work include;

  1. Non availability and delay in the arrival time of the chemicals since they are imported.
  2. Difficulty in choosing a suitable solvent for the purification of dye sample produced, since the dye sample does not dissolve in some of the solvent readily available.